Nature’s Fluffy Little Killing Machines
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 41 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
We found a baby mouse inside once and quickly evicted it. It occurred to me that it was quite small and might suffer, so I sent my husband out to do the merciful thing. He could not find it, although I was sure it was just out the back door.
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Our old sick cat was not let out much and did not have any kind of a hunting record. He managed to escape as my husband came back in, very quickly finding the mouse.
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The next day I needed to get worm medicine from the vet.
I remember that study, it was… calling it “flawed” would be a gracious overstatement.
Kitties are still nature’s perfect little killing machines. They’re cranky because we insist on picking them up, baby talking, and squeezing their cute little beans so the finger-knives come out.
Their hunting skills come in handy if you live in an area where bats get into your home.
They’re cranky because we insist on picking them up, baby talking, and squeezing their cute little beans so the finger-knives come out.
You have to learn your cat. Each has a different menu of quirks. A few mind being picked up, but most do not as long as you hold them properly and the constraint you’ve put on them is brief; they’ll scrabble before they claw you. They don’t care about your vocalizations so long as you’re not making noises that are sharp and loud; they tune out nearly all auditory data except noises which have benefits attached. The paw pads are sensitive; they’ll allow you to stroke them if they trust you completely. They’re affectionate, but on their own whimsical schedule. You let them come to you and you only pick them up for practical reasons. If they’re just vegging, they’ll enjoy affection from you on your schedule as long as you’re not trying to constrain them.
That study is the reflective result of someone with too much free time.
Cats are cats. The second you make a rule, one of them will violate it.
“It occurred to me that it was quite small and might suffer, so I sent my husband out to do the merciful thing.”
The merciful thing would be to look after the poor creature, not kill him. Animals deserve our love and respect.